Help us build the first memorial to FDR that focuses on his disability. We need to build this monument because people with disability, while loved, are pitied because it's believed they cannot achieve anything substantial or independently. We need to dispel this belief which can even afflict people who are disabled themselves.

We are a group of people who live or work on Roosevelt Island in New York City — some of us are disabled, some are doctors, therapists, and others involved with the disabled. We have come together under the auspices of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association to create a monument to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who is a hero to our community: a man who, despite being crippled by polio, became a four-term president of the United States.

We have reached the following milestones and now ask for your support which we need to bring this project to fruition.

We have been awarded a site for our monument in Southpoint Park as you approach Four Freedoms Park.

We have raised $263,000 from Four Freedoms Park, New York City and New York State.

We have commissioned artist Meredith Bergmann and approved a design based on half-height figures.

The artist is now working on the full-size figures which will be cast in bronze; the finished monument will be beautiful and inspiring.

You will be helping us erect a monument not just to what one man has done but to what all of us --enabled not disabled-- can do.

Why Portray FDR as disabled?

FDR hid that he had polio because he didn't want his disability to limit himself or his aspirations to change the world. We live today, in part thanks to him, in a different kind of society, and portraying his disability honors him today in a way in which it couldn't in the 1930s.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America. FDR served four terms and presided over the war that shocked the world: World War II. FDR had polio - a life-threatening and physically mauling disability.

The message of his life is that regardless of the struggle, the disadvantage, the disability, you can do great things. Through our memory of his life the disabled are enabled. The purpose of this memorial is to remind and inspire all, especially those with disability: You can do great things. You are enabled and free to pursue your dreams. The purpose of this call for support is to make this memorial on Roosevelt Island a reality and raise a beacon of hope and truth for years to come. Please give.

How You Can Help

We need to get to $300,000. We are asking for gifts of any size: $10, $20, $100, $350,or even ten thousand. But even it it's a dollar, and you add your name to the list of people who support this project, your support will be invaluable. You will inspire us, and show other people we approach for help that our dream has won the support of many people...

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Welcome to the Roosevelt Islander Online!

Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.

The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.